Philippine Art Symposium

On Friday July 22, a crowd hungry for Filipino food and culture gathered in a Gastown studio for an event that satisfied both types of cravings.

The Philippine Art Symposium brought together three men, three media, and three perspectives on Philippine identity and culture.

Sofronio Ylanan Mendoza, also known as Sym, world-renowned painter and founder of the Dimasalang Group of artists, offered a retrospective slide show of his paintings.

A passionate teacher and mentor, Mendoza encourages aspiring artists not to be afraid to learn from others, which he says takes you out of yourself and allows you to expand, in ways that are impossible if you remain alone.

Award-winning international photographer Stuart Dee, also a member of the Dimasalang Group, showed breath-taking photographs that he took on a trip to the Philippines after a twenty-year absence, now published in The Philippines Rediscovered, a classic coffee table book that is a feast for the eyes.

The event was sponsored by Tulayan, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Philippine art and culture, and was organized by John Eraña.  An architectural designer, Eraña studied environmental design at the University of Manitoba and architecture at McGill University in Montreal.

Eraña’s meticulously researched presentation explored elements of Philippine identity through its architecture - from the nipa hut to Mega Mall, and everything in between.

In between presentations, volunteers served up glasses of halo-halo and an array of homemade Philippine desserts.

Vancouver’s young (and young-at-heart) Filipino Canadians look forward to the next cultural evening.

Be sure to “like” Tulayan’s Facebook page so you don’t miss out. 


Philippine Art Symposium